Sister schools compete

Mishawaka karate tournament develops friendship and camaraderie.

Mishawaka karate tournament develops friendship and camaraderie.

September 03, 2006|JACOB SANDOCK Tribune Staff Writer

Ron Bond was just one of many martial artists to come to the Midwest Karate Academy of Mishawaka's Shorin-Ryu karate tournament at the facility on Mishawaka Avenue. But it's safe to say that Bond's presence at the event, an inter-dojo competition between sister schools which all study the same style of karate (Yamashita Shorin-Ryu), did the most to embody the spirit of the martial arts. While most of the participants came to the tournament with hopes of taking home first-place trophies, Bond, 66-years young and an assistant instructor under Sensei John Sorg of the Midwest Karate Academy in Goshen, said that for him the best part was just having the chance to still be involved. "Age doesn't matter here," said Bond, who competed in the black belt open hand form (kata) category in the tournament and in the weapons category, for which he won first place. "Young and old can participate. I'm 66 and I have an artificial hip, but this style of karate, Shorin-Ryu, lends itself to anybody whether they have physical limitations or age limitations. "It makes no difference. It calls for you to perform within your abilities and it's a chance to perform what we enjoy doing. It's a physical and mental benefit that is, in my book, unequaled by anything else." Although it was tough for anyone else present at the event to equal Bond's show of persistence and dedication to karate, there were about 30 other participants -- from karate schools in New Buffalo, Michigan City, Elkhart and Goshen -- who hoped to demonstrate their own dedication and skill at the tournament. There were three divisions of competition at the event, forms, weaponry and sparring, and according to one of the event organizers, Jerry Wroblewski -- Sensei at the Midwest Karate Academy of Mishawaka, it offered more than just a chance to kick and punch. "We usually have one tournament every year or so just to get the schools together and have a little fun, engage in some competition and get to know each other," Wroblewski said. "We also get to learn a little more about our karate skills and to enhance them. It's a learning experience." For Warren Stueck, from the Gold's Gym school in New Buffalo, the event offered the opportunity to compete in a karate tournament without having to travel too far. "It's more of a pleasure to be able to go to a tournament that is close and offers the chance to be with fellow students of the same karate style," said Stueck, a brown belt who competed in forms and sparring. "Often, when you travel to tournaments, you have mixed styles. There is Taekwondo, predominantly, and other styles as well and this is nice to have just the Shorin-Ryu style here." To Stueck, and many others who were here to compete on this day, karate symbolizes something more than the ability to defend oneself or win trophies. "It's a lifestyle as well," Stueck said. "I think the martial arts should be actively started for children when they are young so that it can become a part of their life and teach them a way of life -- how to be a better person, how to treat others with respect. I think there would be less road rage if this were the case." With the confidence that comes with learning a martial art, Stueck suggested, practitioners are less likely to get upset or stressed out by the things that often lead people to anger. When someone knows they can handle themselves, if need be, they feel they have less to prove and are more likely to simply walk away calmly from petty disputes, arguments and heated situations. Wroblewski stressed these benefits as he gathered all the participants in front of him before the action began. "Being a part of this tournament gives you more experience and more understanding of who you are as a person and martial artist," Wroblewski told the participants, standing in two neat rows in front of him. "You'll learn how to apply your knowledge and how to engage that knowledge. Winning and losing obviously have an impact. "You want to win, otherwise you don't come to a tournament. You don't go to a tournament to lose. But either way, you'll walk away after today with more than you came in with. In terms of experience, friendship and camaraderie." Once the action began, there was plenty of adrenaline in the room and on-lookers had the chance to see, up close and personal, some of the best martial artists in the region demonstrate their skill. Among the highlights of the day were Laima Augustaitis, from the Gold's Gym school in New Buffalo, besting three boys to win first place in the youth sparring category. Karin Thomas, a Lakeville resident who attends the Midwest Karate Academy of Mishawaka with her two children and her husband, won first place in both the women's kata and sparring and a second place in weapons and 15-year-old Matt Walker, a student at Elkhart Memorial High School, also won first place in sparring. For Thomas, the event was a chance to prove that karate, just like anything else, is accessible for anyone who puts in the work. "There's really no downside to karate and anyone fits in, even moms," said Thomas. "The main thing is that the school is kind of like another family. It's nice to be here with our sister schools, we see the same group at other tournaments and we want each other to do well. We're a real close network and it's nice to have that support outside of our family and our church." For Mark VanderMolen, father of Laimia Augustaitis, the best part was watching his young daughter demonstrate the confidence and toughness karate has helped her to find. "We started her out in ballet and she didn't care for it so we put her in karate and she really enjoys it," said VanderMolen, who brought Laima to town on his one day off of the week so that she could compete. He was glad she did so well, well enough to bring home a first place trophy. But for VanderMolen and his wife, Ruta, having Laima in karate has other benefits as well. "It's going to make my job as a father a lot easier," joked VanderMolen. He's pretty certain that he won't ever have to worry about young Laima being able to take care of herself. "Performing in front of people really gives the students confidence a boost," said Sensei John Sorg, of the academy in Goshen, of the most positive aspects of the tournament. "It's a rewarding experience for them, and it's not necessary to win. As long as they compete and enjoy it, they'll learn something whether they win or lose."